Benefits of Using LED Lighting in Your Home

As long as the lights go on when we flip the switch, most of us don’t spend undue time considering the lighting in our homes. When a bulb goes out we replace it and when the lights don’t respond to the on/off switch we check the breakers or call the power company. Other than that, how often do you really think about your lights? If you’re like most people, the answer is never. And yet, you might be surprised to learn that the type of lighting you use in your home can make a big difference in your own life and the lives of others. That may sound a bit dramatic, but all the little choices in life add up, and if more people took the time to look up and consider how their lighting might do more for them, plenty of homeowners could save money and cut their carbon footprint in the process. To date, LED lighting options are the best way to meet both of those goals.

First, let’s get business out of the way. Yes, LED lights are going to cost you. Not only do the bulbs themselves exceed the cost of both standard incandescents and CFLs, in most cases, but you also need specific fixtures in order to utilize light emitting diodes in the home. However, the benefits you get from these lights in the long run will far exceed the immediate drawbacks. For starters, they can save you a ton of money over their life, which incidentally is a lot longer than most bulbs. As you may know, compact fluorescent lights are said to last ten times as long as incandescent bulbs. But LEDs last at least five times longer than CFLs, meaning you’ll only have to replace them once in a blue moon. This more than makes up for the slightly higher cost at the outset.

In addition, LEDs reportedly use as little as 1/30th of the amount of energy required to keep an incandescent bulb lit, although depending on manufacture, they may draw up to 1/3rd of the energy needed for standard lighting options, which is still a significant savings. In order to ensure that you get the best possible energy efficiency from your bulbs, you should spring for energy-star approved options when it comes to the LED bulbs you buy. As you can see, this type of lighting is not only good for your utility bill, but also for the health of the environment.

You’ll also notice that LEDs are a lot cooler than other bulbs. Incandescent bulbs produce approximately 85 BTUs (British Thermal Units – a measure of heat energy) per hour, and CFLs are slightly less. LEDs, on the other hand, create about 3-4 BTUs per hour. In short, their heat output is significantly lower, meaning your space won’t get as hot when you have the lights on. And you’ll still get plenty of light when you use LED bulbs, not to mention a light source that is untinted, allowing you to see truer color throughout your home (unlike other bulbs that tend to skew warm or cool on the light spectrum). There’s a lot to be gained by including LED lighting in your home. You may balk at the up-front costs of switching over, but the savings you’ll realize in the long run will far exceed your expenditures. And there are certainly other benefits to be gained, as well.